Empire Pillows and Throws
From 1804–15, Napoléon I reigned as the emperor of France, bringing the country into a new era of opulence after the fall of the monarchy and the tumultuous years of the French Revolution. He declared, “We must have very solid things, made to last 100 years.” Empire-style furniture followed suit, with imposing pieces constructed from mahogany and adorned with gilded ornaments. Expanding on the neoclassicism popularized in the previous century — such as in Louis XVI style — Empire style borrowed from the great civilizations of antiquity, from Egypt to Greece and Rome, to connect this nascent empire to the power of the past.
Napoléon I believed the production of fine furniture would reflect the stature of the republic, with his official architects Charles Percier and Pierre-François-Léonard Fontaine leading the way with their work on his residences.
Luxurious materials, symmetrical shapes and bold colors characterize antique Empire-style bedroom furniture, armchairs, cabinets and other structures, with frequent motifs including mythological creatures, geometric designs, acanthus leaves, eagles, bees (the imperial emblem) and swans, a favorite of Empress Joséphine. Flat surfaces, like marble tabletops, were accented with decadent details, such as the bronze furniture mounts made by sculptor Pierre-Philippe Thomire for the French palaces. Martin-Guillaume Biennais, who worked as the imperial goldsmith, crafted intricate luxury objects that mixed wood, fine metal, mother-of-pearl and ivory.
The style became popular abroad, influencing the American Empire style. Stately pieces carved with sprigs of olives by cabinetmaker Pierre-Antoine Bellange were acquired by American President James Monroe for the White House in 1817.
Find a collection of antique Empire tables, lighting, seating and other furniture on 1stDibs.
2010s Australian Empire Pillows and Throws
Fur
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Pillows and Throws
Wool, Silk
19th Century Armenian Antique Empire Pillows and Throws
Metallic Thread
21st Century and Contemporary French Empire Pillows and Throws
Cotton
19th Century French Antique Empire Pillows and Throws
Silk
21st Century and Contemporary French Empire Pillows and Throws
Cotton
19th Century French Antique Empire Pillows and Throws
Satin, Silk
Late 19th Century French Antique Empire Pillows and Throws
Silk, Wool
Late 19th Century Antique Empire Pillows and Throws
Wool, Cotton, Foam
2010s American Empire Pillows and Throws
Fur, Down, Feathers
2010s European Empire Pillows and Throws
Fabric
2010s American Empire Pillows and Throws
Fur
2010s Italian Empire Pillows and Throws
Textile, Cotton, Linen, Silk
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Empire Pillows and Throws
Silk
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Empire Pillows and Throws
Silk
21st Century and Contemporary Swedish Empire Pillows and Throws
Fur
2010s French Empire Pillows and Throws
Cotton, Textile
21st Century and Contemporary French Empire Pillows and Throws
Fur
2010s American Empire Pillows and Throws
Silk
21st Century and Contemporary Indian Empire Pillows and Throws
Silk
2010s Australian Empire Pillows and Throws
Fur
21st Century and Contemporary French Empire Pillows and Throws
Cotton
1940s French Vintage Empire Pillows and Throws
Metallic Thread
2010s North American Empire Pillows and Throws
Cotton
19th Century French Antique Empire Pillows and Throws
Metallic Thread
2010s American Empire Pillows and Throws
Cotton, Silk
20th Century American Empire Pillows and Throws
Satin
2010s American Empire Pillows and Throws
Cotton, Silk
19th Century French Antique Empire Pillows and Throws
Metallic Thread
2010s American Empire Pillows and Throws
Cotton, Linen, Silk